The arrest of 21 militant red-shirt members and the seizure of explosives in Khon Kaen on Friday night has put the military on alert that an anti-coup armed movement is forming.
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has been keeping a close eye on weapons seizures and was preparing to take drastic action against those involved, army deputy spokesman Winthai Suvaree said at the Army Auditorium in Bangkok’s Thewes area yesterday.
Col Winthai said the NCPO had discussed four issues: Law enforcement; locating those who had yet to report to the council after an NCPO order had been issued; the seizure of weapons; and a meeting with executives of digital television stations.
The NCPO was forced into action following the seizure of weapons in Nakhon Nayok, an area near a rally stage of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) at Utthayan Road, Lop Buri and Samut Sakhon following the coup.
Col Winthai said “all cases were connected”, particularly the latest seizure of weapons in Khon Kaen.
The suspects, including a woman, were caught during a raid by about 200 troops on Chonlapreuk Apartment in Muang district on Friday. Two of them were identified as Meechai Muangmontri, a leading member of a red-shirt group, and Prathin Janket, a security guard at the Bank of Thailand’s Khon Kaen branch office.
Authorities seized three hand grenades, a smoke bomb, 202 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 154 rounds of 11mm ammunition, two gas cylinders, some communications equipment, 10 vehicles, red-shirt cards, red scarves, pictures of red-shirt leaders and documents that linked several groups.
A military source said some suspects admitted they had been ordered by a UDD leader in Bangkok to use the weapons to set a precedent for other attacks.
Mr Meechai and Mr Prathin had rented rooms on the entire fourth floor of the apartment to prepare to commit violence in Khon Kaen, the source said.
All 21 suspects are now being detained at Sri Patcharin military camp in Khon Kaen.
Second Army deputy commander Thawat Sookplang said the military was keeping close watch on four provinces — Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Udon Thani and Nakhon Ratchasima.
A Pheu Thai Party source said he believed the anti-coup movement would gain momentum.